Bensalem-Linked 'Ghost Gun' Ring Busted: Cops

BENSALEM, PA — Authorities in New Jersey have arrested 12 men, busting up what they say was an illegal "ghost gun" trafficking ring in which parts for assault rifles were shipped into Bensalem.

The men also are accused of dealing thousands of dollars worth of cocaine, heroin and other drugs, according to the New Jersey Attorney General's office.

According to the AG's office, four of the men are charged with conspiring to sell six untraceable AR-15 assault rifles, which they assembled from kits purchased online. Prosecutors say the men began shipping the parts into Bensalem because of a new gun law in New Jersey.

The charges are the first targeting "ghost gun" trafficking under a law signed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in November 2018. The law makes it a crime to buy, manufacture, possess or sell guns that do not have serial numbers, making them difficult to trace.

A total of 13 firearms were recovered as part of "Operation Stone Wall," a year-long investigation by New Jersey authorities. Parts for two more AR-15 "ghost guns" also were seized.

Police say the AR-15s were sold for prices ranging from $1,100 to $1,300 each.

The arrests were made from March 8-14. The operation had begun as a cocaine trafficking investigation in Lindenwold, N.J., but was expanded when detectives say they learned members of the ring were trafficking assault rifles.

Ten men are charged with distributing narcotics, including two of the men also facing firearms charges. The two remaining defendants are charged only in the gun case.

During the operation, investigators say the defendants talked about a gun sale being delayed because they could no longer ship gun parts into New Jersey because of the new law. On March 13, authorities intercepted parts for assault rifles that were being shipped to Bensalem.

"This case starkly illustrates why ghost guns are so dangerous, because drug dealers and other criminals can easily acquire them and traffic them into our communities, where they will be virtually untraceable if used in a crime," said New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.

"Assault rifles like these pose an especially deadly threat to law enforcement, innocent bystanders, and others when placed in the wrong hands, and suffice it to say no one conducted any background checks here."

Investigators say they seized 525 grams of cocaine, worth between $18,500-$37,000 on the street, and 30 doses of heroin. When arrests were made on March 8, they say they seized a handgun, a small amount of crack cocaine, a scale, drug packaging materials and $1,738 in cash at one defendant's home.

At another, they say, they seized a handgun, a shotgun, about 120 oxycodone and Xanax pills, drug packaging materials and $2,095 in cash. At a third, they seized two handguns, about 3.5 pounds of marijuana, drug packaging materials and $18,420 in cash. A fourth home had tools used to assemble "ghost guns," as well as a handgun and a shot gun.

Those arrested in the case are:

• Christopher Stoner, 41, of Lindenwold, N.J. Conspiracy (2nd degree - Firearms); Unlawful Possession of an Assault Rifle (2nd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Assault Rifle (3rd degree); Unlawful Possession of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Possession of Firearm While Committing Drug Offense (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (1st degree); Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree).

• Nicholas Cilien, 38, of Mt. Ephraim, N.J. Conspiracy (2nd degree - Firearms); Unlawful Possession of an Assault Rifle (2nd degree); Possession of Firearm as Convicted Felon (2 counts, 2nd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Assault Rifle (3rd degree); Unlawful Possession of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (1st degree); Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); Possession of Oxycodone with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree); Possession of Xanax with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree).

• Paul Corum, 43, of Lindenwold, N.J. Conspiracy (2nd degree - Firearms); Unlawful Possession of an Assault Rifle (2nd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Assault Rifle (3rd degree); Unlawful Possession of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Purchase of Firearm Parts to Manufacture Untraceable Firearm (3rd degree).

• Lamont White, 43, of Lindenwold, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree).

• Bryheem Belcher, 33, of Magnolia, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree).

• Michael Smith, 48, of Woodbury Heights, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree).

• Fabian Sapp, 45, of Sicklerville, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rddegree).

• Devon Davis, 31, of Chesilhurst, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rddegree).

• Monroe Gadson, 28, of Camden, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree); Possession of Firearm as Convicted Felon (2 counts, 2nd degree); Possession of Firearm While Committing Drug Offense (2nd degree); Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree); Possession of Marijuana (4th degree).

• Tyriek Bradford, 20, of Lindenwold, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree); Distribution of Heroin (3rd degree); Possession of Heroin (3rd degree).

• John Rayford, 41, of Lindenwold, N.J. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree); Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree); Possession of Cocaine (3rddegree).

• Marc Freeman, 53, of Lindenwold, N.J. Conspiracy (2nd degree - Firearms); Unlawful Possession of an Assault Rifle (2nd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Assault Rifle (3rd degree); Unlawful Possession of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Unlawful Manufacture, Transport, Shipment, Sale, Disposition of Covert or Undetectable Firearm (3rd degree); Purchase of Firearm Parts to Manufacture Untraceable Firearm (3rd degree); Possession of a Weapon by Person Who Has Committed Domestic Violence Offense (3rd degree).